| Balachandran, Kurudanmala, Ward 16, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta |
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With uncommon wisdom they have used the common bamboo growing by the riverside to construct a sailboat. And when the construction is over, the 15-seater boat would have cost just Rs.20000 which is only 20% of the cost of traditional wooden boats.
Balachandran of Kurudanmala in Ward 16 of Thiruvalla Muncipality and his friends are behind the unusual boat. The boat, which is getting ready at Thirumoolapuram, may be the first one made of bamboo in Kerala. Balachandran, whose family traditionally makes flute and ‘mrudangam’, is not stranger to the fabrication of boats. His uncle Raghavan is his inspiration in this field.
It was the realization that in the North-Eastern States, even water harvesting structures are built using bamboos and in China, a plethora of articles are made using bamboos, that made them try bamboo for its water-worthiness.
At the end of their effort, the boat is likely to weigh 1 ton.
Courtesy: Raju Mathew, Malayala Manorama, March 2, 2005
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